This article has been written in collaboration with Elodie Roux Heineck, founder of Baby in Berlin, a family care and concierge service for expat families in Germany.
Elterngeld, literally translated as “parent’s money”, is an income replacement benefit aimed at financially supporting parents who decide to work less or not at all after their baby’s birth, so parents can spend more time with their new bundle rather than at the office. How cool is that? Read more about who is eligible and how to apply here.
Elterngeld, literally translated as “parent’s money”, is an income replacement benefit aimed at financially supporting parents who decide to work less or not at all after their baby’s birth, so parents can spend more time with their new bundle rather than at the office. How cool is that? Read more about who is eligible and how to apply here.
Who is eligible for Elterngeld?
In order to be eligible for Elterngeld, a certain set of rules applies. Parents need to:
Of course, there are always exceptions, for example
Important: you do not need to have previously earned any income or paid any taxes in Germany to receive Elterngeld. Housewives/husbands or students for example can also receive Elterngeld (albeit the minimum).
Also important: Elterngeld being an income replacement benefit, you cannot claim other income replacement benefits alongside it (unemployment benefits, sick pay - ALGI, ALGII or Hartz IV, Krankengeld, etc.)
What is Elterngeld Basis and Elterngeld Plus?
Basis Elterngeld
Eligibility period:
14 months as a couple. Minimum 2 months and maximum 12 months per parent. Parents can share the months as they wish (e.g. each take 7 months, or the mother takes 9 months and the father 3).
Amount: €300 - €1800
Calculation (if recipient does not work at all): About two thirds of the recipient's average net income prior to the birth
Elterngeld Plus
Eligibility period:
28 months as a couple. Minimum 4 months and maximum 24 months per parent. Parents can share the months as they wish (e.g. each take 7 months, or the mother takes 9 months and the father 3).
Amount: €150 - €900
Calculation (if recipient does not work at all):
About a third of the recipient’s average net income prior to the birth
What is the calculation basis for Elterngeld?
For employed parents:
Net wages are used for calculation 12 months prior to the start of maternity leave (for mothers) or prior to birth (for fathers/partners)
For self-employed parents:
All net profit from self-employment is used for calculation in the fiscal year prior to the birth year (so 2018 if the baby was born in 2019)
For parents with mixed income (employed and self-employed
Net wages and all net profit from self-employment will be used for the calculation in the fiscal year prior to the birth year (so 2018 if baby born in 2019)
For all these calculations, income must be earned within the EU, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Yet more bad news for us Brits though, to date, no transition agreement is in place post-Brexit, meaning income from a UK source will therefore probably no longer be taken into consideration after March 29th 2019.
Well done us.
Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity leave) and how it ties in with the Elterngeld
Employed mothers-to-be are entitled to Mutterschaftsgeld, that is 100% of their regular pay 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after birth. This is typically paid by the public health insurance and their employers (or fully by their employers if the mother is privately insured).
It’s important to note that the 8 weeks of Mutterschaftsgeld get deducted from the overall eligibility period for Elterngeld. So, if a mother wanted to take the maximum amount of Basis Elterngeld (12 months), she would not get 12 months Basis Elterngeld + 8 weeks Mutterschaftsgeld, but only 12 months overall.
Self-employed mothers can benefit from the maximum eligibility period since they don’t benefit from Mutterschaftsgeld.
Sibling bonus
If you have another child under 3, 2 children under 6 or a disabled child under 14, you are eligibigle for a sibling bonus (Geschwisterbonus) which is 10% of your monthly Elterngeld entitlement (minimum 75€, maximum 180€).
Can I mix Basis Elterngeld and Elterngeld Plus?
Yes you can. The rule of thumb to remember is that your eligibility period should equal to 14 months of Basis Elterngeld, minimum 2 months or maximum 12 months per parent whereby two months of Elterngeld Plus equal to one month of Basis Elterngeld.
Can I work whilst claiming Elterngeld?
Yes you can. Elterngeld being an income replacement, it will therefore be calculated based on the income you’re missing out on (difference between what you’re earning during the Elterngeld period and what you earned before the birth – see calculation basis). It is important to declare any income you might have (from employment or self-employment) to the Elterngeld authorities otherwise you might have to pay some money back if you perceived too much.
When can I apply? What are the important deadlines?
You can apply as soon as the baby is born. The Elterngeld authority can pay 3 months Elterngeld retroactively from the date of application.
The deadline to send your application for Elterngeld is before the baby turns 15 months old. After that your eligibility ends.
Also, Basis Elterngeld is only available until the baby turns 14 months old. After that you can only apply for Elterngeld Plus. After this age, also note you cannot pause your Elterngeld any longer.
What are the Partnerschaftbonus months?
Partnerschaftsbonus months are Elterngeld Plus months that parents can take on top of the regular Elterngeld eligibility period. They consist of 4 extra months per parent that parent are entitled to when they:
Where to apply?
You can apply at your local Elterngeldstelle. You will find the forms for Berlin on here.
This article was written by Elodie Roux Heineck, owner of Baby in Berlin, a family care and concierge service for expat families in Germany. Elodie can assist in filling in your Elterngeld application or explain the parental leave system and your entitlements as per your specific situation. Feel free to contact her here.
In order to be eligible for Elterngeld, a certain set of rules applies. Parents need to:
- Work 30 hours a week or less
- Live in the same household as your child
- Ordinarily reside in Germany and therefore have a valid residency permit
- Not earn more than 250,000€ / year as a single parent or 500,000 as a couple
Of course, there are always exceptions, for example
- You may have a valid residence permit to reside in Germany but not be eligible for Elterngeld
- You might not live in Germany but have a German work contract and be posted abroad, in which case you will be eligible for Elterngeld
- And so on…
Important: you do not need to have previously earned any income or paid any taxes in Germany to receive Elterngeld. Housewives/husbands or students for example can also receive Elterngeld (albeit the minimum).
Also important: Elterngeld being an income replacement benefit, you cannot claim other income replacement benefits alongside it (unemployment benefits, sick pay - ALGI, ALGII or Hartz IV, Krankengeld, etc.)
What is Elterngeld Basis and Elterngeld Plus?
Basis Elterngeld
Eligibility period:
14 months as a couple. Minimum 2 months and maximum 12 months per parent. Parents can share the months as they wish (e.g. each take 7 months, or the mother takes 9 months and the father 3).
Amount: €300 - €1800
Calculation (if recipient does not work at all): About two thirds of the recipient's average net income prior to the birth
Elterngeld Plus
Eligibility period:
28 months as a couple. Minimum 4 months and maximum 24 months per parent. Parents can share the months as they wish (e.g. each take 7 months, or the mother takes 9 months and the father 3).
Amount: €150 - €900
Calculation (if recipient does not work at all):
About a third of the recipient’s average net income prior to the birth
What is the calculation basis for Elterngeld?
For employed parents:
Net wages are used for calculation 12 months prior to the start of maternity leave (for mothers) or prior to birth (for fathers/partners)
For self-employed parents:
All net profit from self-employment is used for calculation in the fiscal year prior to the birth year (so 2018 if the baby was born in 2019)
For parents with mixed income (employed and self-employed
Net wages and all net profit from self-employment will be used for the calculation in the fiscal year prior to the birth year (so 2018 if baby born in 2019)
For all these calculations, income must be earned within the EU, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Yet more bad news for us Brits though, to date, no transition agreement is in place post-Brexit, meaning income from a UK source will therefore probably no longer be taken into consideration after March 29th 2019.
Well done us.
Mutterschaftsgeld (maternity leave) and how it ties in with the Elterngeld
Employed mothers-to-be are entitled to Mutterschaftsgeld, that is 100% of their regular pay 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after birth. This is typically paid by the public health insurance and their employers (or fully by their employers if the mother is privately insured).
It’s important to note that the 8 weeks of Mutterschaftsgeld get deducted from the overall eligibility period for Elterngeld. So, if a mother wanted to take the maximum amount of Basis Elterngeld (12 months), she would not get 12 months Basis Elterngeld + 8 weeks Mutterschaftsgeld, but only 12 months overall.
Self-employed mothers can benefit from the maximum eligibility period since they don’t benefit from Mutterschaftsgeld.
Sibling bonus
If you have another child under 3, 2 children under 6 or a disabled child under 14, you are eligibigle for a sibling bonus (Geschwisterbonus) which is 10% of your monthly Elterngeld entitlement (minimum 75€, maximum 180€).
Can I mix Basis Elterngeld and Elterngeld Plus?
Yes you can. The rule of thumb to remember is that your eligibility period should equal to 14 months of Basis Elterngeld, minimum 2 months or maximum 12 months per parent whereby two months of Elterngeld Plus equal to one month of Basis Elterngeld.
Can I work whilst claiming Elterngeld?
Yes you can. Elterngeld being an income replacement, it will therefore be calculated based on the income you’re missing out on (difference between what you’re earning during the Elterngeld period and what you earned before the birth – see calculation basis). It is important to declare any income you might have (from employment or self-employment) to the Elterngeld authorities otherwise you might have to pay some money back if you perceived too much.
When can I apply? What are the important deadlines?
You can apply as soon as the baby is born. The Elterngeld authority can pay 3 months Elterngeld retroactively from the date of application.
The deadline to send your application for Elterngeld is before the baby turns 15 months old. After that your eligibility ends.
Also, Basis Elterngeld is only available until the baby turns 14 months old. After that you can only apply for Elterngeld Plus. After this age, also note you cannot pause your Elterngeld any longer.
What are the Partnerschaftbonus months?
Partnerschaftsbonus months are Elterngeld Plus months that parents can take on top of the regular Elterngeld eligibility period. They consist of 4 extra months per parent that parent are entitled to when they:
- Take these months consecutively and simultaneously
- Work between 25 and 30 hours a week each
Where to apply?
You can apply at your local Elterngeldstelle. You will find the forms for Berlin on here.
This article was written by Elodie Roux Heineck, owner of Baby in Berlin, a family care and concierge service for expat families in Germany. Elodie can assist in filling in your Elterngeld application or explain the parental leave system and your entitlements as per your specific situation. Feel free to contact her here.
